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Traditional Refuge Tree

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This is a traditional Tibetan image of the refuge tree. It rises out of a beautiful lake. It has one root, one trunk and four branches. On the central branch is a lion throne, with lotus, sun and moon. On this sits the root guru, here represented by His Holiness Karmapa, head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is surrounded by other lamas. These represent all your teachers in past, present and future.

On the branch in front of the guru are all the yidams. To the guru's right are the buddhas, again from past, present and future. Behind are the teachings, the holy dharma, represented by stacks of prayer-books. And to the left of the guru is the sangha, your fellow seekers, here represented by various monks and characters from Tibetan history. Below the throne are all the dharma protectors, scary figures who exist to ensure nobody degrades the teachings or uses them for evil.

On the grassy shores of the lake are "all those who have been my mothers in the past": all our fellow sentient beings (human and otherwise) who, we are reminded, have all been our mothers in past lives and therefore merit as much love and respect as we are able to offer. When you take refuge, imagine that all these other beings are simultaneously taking refuge with you.

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